Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 5250:
Description
This engraved map from Gilles Robert de Vaugondy entitled
Partie De L’Amerique Septentrionale, qui comprend Le Cours De L’Ohio, La N.lle Angleterre, La Nlle York …. . It was published in Paris in 1755 as part of
Atlas Universel. The map was engraved by Elisabeth Haussard.
This is an important map of North America depicting Northeast United States and Canada in great detail. The map illustrates the course of the Ohio River from New York and Pennsylvania to its confluence with the Mississippi. Its significance lies in the historical events that occurred in this region around the time of the map’s publication. In 1754, a year before the creation of the first state of the map, the French built Fort Duquesne, a key landmark in the Ohio Valley, which became a principal battleground of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) between France and Britain. The map depicts this fort as “F. du Quene, ” showing its strategic position where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join the Ohio.
The French recognized the value of this location and blocked British territorial expansion in the valley. This control was short-lived: in the spring of 1754, George Washington led an expedition of 300 men from Virginia. After a successful ambush on a French camp of 30 men under the command of Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville, the British captured the fort in May. The French allied with local Native Americans and resisted the British; it was not until 1758 that the British finally secured Fort Duquesne and established Fort Pitt on the site.
The map extends from Montreal and Lake Huron in the north to the Carolinas in the south, and from Illinois and Louisiana in the west to the eastern coast as far as Brunswick. An inset map of the Carolinas is included in the upper left corner.
Paper Size: ~ 21 5/8" by 31 1/2"
Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving with Original Outline Color
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be some faint offset due to the fold out nature of the plate. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks or fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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